A simple solution to save lives

Out of Tennessee, Haley Ham, age 11, is turning a tragic event into positive action by influencing the state legislature to require anti-freeze manufacturers to add a bitter-tasting solution to the currently sweet-tasting and deadly solution. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that 10,000 pets and 1,400 children succumb to anti-freeze poisoning every year.

National legislation introduced in 2006 never made it into law. Sadly, that cost Haley's two best friends, Sam and Jessie, their lives when someone fed them a "stew" of poisonous ingredients that included anti-freeze. She dedicated her 4-H project to provide information and outreach to local officials, which resulted in State Senator Raymond Finney, R-Marysville, agreeing to introduce legislation during the next session of the state Senate.

In preparation for the upcoming session, Haley is collecting signatures via an online petition. Note that when you sign this, you'll be asked to give a donation, but it seems well worth it.

The pictures to the left are of Haley, Sam, a golden retriever, and Jessie, who looks to be a black lab. There's a video on the WBIR website that shows the bond Haley had to these two guys who were literally lifelong friends.